Australian consumers spend well over 20 million dollars a year on cosmetics, despite harsh economic times. Cosmetic sales have increased dramatically over the last fifty years through aggressive promotion and marketing, to a point where cosmetic counters can now take up an entire floor of a department store.
Because we are a very aesthetically oriented society, looks are of paramount importance. Studies have shown that physical appearance plays an important part in our social interactions, interpersonal relations and job success. In western societies youth is also highly valued, so fear of ageing and loss of attractiveness make us easy prey for those promising simple (but expensive) solutions to ageing.
Traditionally, cosmetics were used simply to beautify or decorate the skin. Over recent years, however, cosmetic companies have tapped into (and promoted) our fear of ageing and the cosmetic counters are now stocked high with potions and creams that, the manufacturers would have us believe, will rejuvenate our skin, prevent wrinkles or otherwise modify the ageing process. So many unsubstantiated claims, not surprisingly, have led the Federal Government to legislate against the use of unproven ‘scientific’ claims. Nevertheless, terms such as ‘liposomes’, ‘elastin’ and ‘anti-oxidants’ will no doubt continue to entice people to spend their hard-earned wages on products which may be of no real benefit. The use of pseudo-scientific terminology is confusing and often meaningless to customers, and even the sales staff may be unable to explain what it means. Moreover, nowadays cosmetics can be very expensive. It is not as though we are duped out of only a few dollars. We are also led to believe that the more expensive products are somehow better, and this too can be far from the truth.
Australian consumers spend well over 20 million dollars a year on cosmetics, despite harsh economic times. Cosmetic sales have increased dramatically over the last fifty years through aggressive promotion and marketing, to a point where cosmetic counters can now take up an entire floor of a department store.Because we are a very aesthetically oriented society, looks are of paramount importance. Studies have shown that physical appearance plays an important part in our social interactions, interpersonal relations and job success. In western societies youth is also highly valued, so fear of ageing and loss of attractiveness make us easy prey for those promising simple (but expensive) solutions to ageing.Traditionally, cosmetics were used simply to beautify or decorate the skin. Over recent years, however, cosmetic companies have tapped into (and promoted) our fear of ageing and the cosmetic counters are now stocked high with potions and creams that, the manufacturers would have us believe, will rejuvenate our skin, prevent wrinkles or otherwise modify the ageing process. So many unsubstantiated claims, not surprisingly, have led the Federal Government to legislate against the use of unproven ‘scientific’ claims. Nevertheless, terms such as ‘liposomes’, ‘elastin’ and ‘anti-oxidants’ will no doubt continue to entice people to spend their hard-earned wages on products which may be of no real benefit. The use of pseudo-scientific terminology is confusing and often meaningless to customers, and even the sales staff may be unable to explain what it means. Moreover, nowadays cosmetics can be very expensive. It is not as though we are duped out of only a few dollars. We are also led to believe that the more expensive products are somehow better, and this too can be far from the truth.
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